title: Serum electrolyte levels in relation to macrovascular complications in Chinese patients with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of diabetes in China is increasing rapidly. However, scarce data are available on serum electrolyte levels in Chinese adults with diabetes, especially in those with cardiovascular complications. This study measured serum electrolyte levels and examined their relationship with macrovascular complications in Chinese adults with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The three gender- and age-matched groups were enrolled into this analysis, which were 1,170 subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR), 389 with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and 343 with diabetes. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour post-load plasma glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and serum electrolyte levels were measured. Data collection included ankle brachial index results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum sodium and magnesium levels in the diabetes group were significantly decreased compared to the NGR group (sodium: 141.0 ± 2.4 vs. 142.1 ± 2.0 mmol/l; magnesium: 0.88 ± 0.08 vs. 0.91 ± 0.07 mmol/l, all P < 0.01), while the serum calcium level was significantly increased (2.36 ± 0.11 vs. 2.33 ± 0.09 mmol/l, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression showed that serum sodium and magnesium levels in the diabetes group were negatively correlated with FPG, 2hPG and HbA1c (sodium: Std β = -0.35, -0.19, -0.25; magnesium: Std β = -0.29, -0.17, -0.34, all P < 0.01), while the serum calcium level was positively correlated with HbA1c (Std β = 0.17, P < 0.05). In diabetic subjects, serum sodium, magnesium and potassium levels were decreased in the subjects with the elevation of estimated glomerular filtration rates (P < 0.05). ANCOVA analysis suggested that serum magnesium level in subjects with diabetic macrovascular complications was significantly decreased compared with diabetic subjects without macrovascular complications after the effect of some possible confounding being removed (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum sodium and magnesium levels were decreased in Chinese subjects with diabetes, while the observed increase in calcium level correlated with increasing glucose level. Diabetic patients with macrovascular complications had lower serum magnesium level than those with no macrovascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China. wpjia@sjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shenqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yuqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002118:Calcium; D004573:Electrolytes; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D012964:Sodium; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human